An Aerosol Generating Device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes a heating chamber arranged to receive a consumable and heat the consumable to generate an inhalable vapour; a consumable picker arranged to engage and retain a consumable, wherein the consumable picker is movable relative to the heating chamber between: a first, external position in which the consumable picker is positioned external to the device; and a second, internal position in which the consumable picker lies within the heating chamber; such that a user may engage a consumable with the consumable picker in the first position and subsequently move the consumable picker to the second position, thereby moving the consumable picker with the retained consumable into the heating chamber for heating. By providing an aerosol generating device including a consumable picker configured in this way, the process of exchanging the consumable is greatly simplified.

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a heating chamber arranged to receive a consumable and heat the consumable to generate an inhalable vapour;   a consumable picker arranged to engage and retain a consumable such that it may pick up a consumable, wherein the consumable picker is movable relative to the heating chamber between:   a first, external position in which the consumable picker is positioned external to the device; and   a second, internal position in which the consumable picker lies within the heating chamber; such that   a user may engage a consumable with the consumable picker in the first position to pick up the consumable with the consumable picker and subsequently move the consumable picker to the second position, thereby moving the consumable picker with the retained consumable into the heating chamber for heating.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the consumable picker comprises a protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion has a tapered shape. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heating chamber lid, moveable between an open position to allow access to the heating chamber and closed position in which the heating chamber is enclosed; wherein   the consumable picker is coupled to the heating chamber lid such that movement of the lid between the open and closed position moves the consumable picker between the external and internal position to simultaneously insert the consumable picker into the chamber and close the heating chamber opening.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 4 , wherein the consumable picker forms part of the heating chamber lid and extends from an internal surface of the heating chamber lid such that when the heating chamber lid is in the closed position the consumable picker extends into the heating chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 4 , wherein the consumable picker is a separate component to the lid and the consumable picker and the lid are mechanically coupled such that movement of the consumable picker between the external and internal position drives movement of the lid between the open and closed position and/or movement of the lid between the open and closed position drives movement of the consumable picker between the external and internal position. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 6 , comprising a user actuation means arranged to drive the movement of the heating chamber lid and the consumable picker. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises:
 an elongate body and a sleeve, the elongate body moveable within the sleeve in a direction corresponding to the elongate axis; wherein   the consumable picker forms part of the body with the protrusion extending from one end of the body; such that   relative movement of the sleeve and body provides movement between the first position in which the protrusion extends out of the sleeve and the second position in which the protrusion is retracted within the sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 8 , wherein the heating chamber is provided by the internal volume defined by an end face of the body and the surrounding internal surface of the sleeve when the consumable picker is in the second position in which the protrusion is retracted within the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the consumable picker comprises a heating element arranged to heat the consumable when received in the heating chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a releasing means configured to release the consumable from consumable picker upon actuation by the user. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol generating system comprising:
 the aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 ;   a consumable formed such that it will be retained after being engaged by the consumable picker.   
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 12 , wherein the consumable picker comprises a protrusion and the consumable has a central cavity shaped such that the protrusion of the consumable picker may be inserted into the cavity and the consumable retained on the protrusion. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a consumable package arranged to hold a plurality of consumables, each in a corresponding orientation such that a face of the consumable which is capable of being engaged with the consumable picker faces outwards, allowing a user to select a consumable by engaging the face with the consumable picker.   
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 12 , wherein the consumable comprises a mouthpiece such that, when the consumable is engaged by the consumable picker and moved to the internal position within the chamber, the mouthpiece extends outside of the chamber allowing a user to inhale the generated vapour through the consumable.